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Colon settles down after rocky start in tie

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Unable to score in the final five innings, the D-backs and A's played to a 2-2 tie Friday in front of a sellout crowd at Salt River Fields.

Starters Brandon McCarthy and Bartolo Colon each threw four innings and gave up a pair of earned runs before the clubs' bullpens finished the game without allowing a run.

The D-backs jumped on Colon early, scoring twice in the first inning on four singles, three of which came with two outs.

After homering and driving in three runs Wednesday, Gerardo Parra collected two more hits and another RBI in his second game since returning from his hitless World Baseball Classic stint with Team Venezuela.

"He's been good," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "He didn't get any hits in the [Classic], but he came back with a great attitude. He has played well, we missed him."

Later in the fourth, Oakland responded with a two-out rally of its own, tying the game on back-to-back RBI doubles from Seth Smith and John Jaso.

The A's appeared poised to take their first lead of the game in the eighth inning when they worked the bases loaded with one out, but D-backs center fielder Evan Marzilli threw out Adam Rosales at home to end the threat on a double play. Oakland manager Bob Melvin didn't agree with the call and immediately ran out of the visiting dugout to argue with home plate umpire Jonathan Saphire.

Continuing his hot start to the spring, D-backs reliever Brad Ziegler tossed his fourth consecutive shutout inning, while fellow bullpen arm Matt Reynolds bounced back from a couple rough outings to record his first clean frame since March 2. Tony Sipp, another projected reliever, also threw a perfect inning against the A's, his third straight.

On the Oakland side after Colon exited, Jordan Norberto and Ryan Cook went toe-to-toe with their Arizona counterparts, combining for three strikeouts over three scoreless frames in the middle innings.

Up next: The A's have three pitchers scheduled to make starts on Saturday. Right-hander Jarrod Parker will engage in split-squad action with the White Sox on the road, while lefty Travis Blackley will get the start against Jered Weaver and the Angels at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Both games begin at 1:05 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, southpaw Brett Anderson will throw in a Minor League game, which often provides more of a controlled environment. Anderson made just seven pitches in his last start, before exiting with a minor neck injury he believes is now healed.

Tyler Emerick is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.